Kansas Measure Against Surrogacy Draws Opposition

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Parents, doctors and women who have been surrogate mothers are strongly criticizing a Kansas Senate bill to void existing surrogacy contracts and make it illegal to pay women to serve as surrogates.

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony Monday on the measure drafted by committee chairwoman Mary Pilcher-Cook, a Republican from Shawnee.

Pilcher-Cook and other supporters of the bill said they’re worried about the health of surrogate children and the women who bear them, as well as the possible exploitation of poor women.

But women who have been surrogates testified that it was a positive experience, and parents of children birthed by surrogate mothers said others shouldn’t be denied the same option.

And Wichita physician David Grainger said such a law would have criminalized Jesus’ conception.